Suction device for holding the thread ends of full bobbins



June 12, 1956 s. FURST ET AL 2,750,125

SUCTION DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE THREAD ENDS OF FULL BOBBINS Filed Aug. 16, 1954 STEFAN F RST Ni -HELP? KUPPER fm enfars:

SUCTION DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE THREAD ENDS OF FULL BOBBINS Stefan Fiirst, M. Gladbacli, and Wilhelm Kiipper, Kreis Erkelenz, Germany, assignors to Walter Reiuers, M. Gladbach, Rhineland, Germany Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,864

Claims priority, application Germany August 14, 1953 9 Claims. (Cl. 242--35.6)

he present invention relates to a suction device for holding the thread ends of full bobbins, and more particularly to an arrangement for limiting the length of a matted rope-like body, formed by cut off thread ends in the suction device, to pieces of a length permitting removal by the suction of the suction means.

It is known to hold in a winding machine the thread ends of full bobbins by means of a suction nozzle. A stream of air entering the suction nozzle pulls the thread ends into the nozzle. When an empty let off bobbin is removed and a full bobbin is supplied from the bobbin magazine, a knotting device connects the free thread end of the takeup roller with the thread of the newly fed full bobbin, whereupon the thread end held by the suction nozzle is cut oii. Since a plurality of thread ends is consecutively cut ofi as the feeding of the full bobbins proceeds, the cut oil thread ends intertwine and mat in the suction nozzle and form a matted rope-like body whose length continually increases as thread ends are added. Such rope-like body tends to clog the suction nozzle, and offers considerable diificulties when an attempt is made to remove it from the suction nozzle.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of suction devices for holding the thread ends of full bobbins, and to provide means for limiting the length of the matted rope-like body to pieces which are removed by suction through the suction nozzle.

With this object in view the present invention mainly consists in an apparatus which comprises magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread, suction means located spaced from the magazine means for holding the thread ends of the full bobbins, means for consecutively moving the full bobbins from the magazine means to a unwinding position, cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in the unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is caused in the suction means, and means for limiting the length of the matted rope-like body to pieces of such length as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of the suction means.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the length of the matted rope-like body is limited by providing a plurality of suction nozzles. Each suction nozzle holds the thread ends of a group of full bobbins, three to five bobbins preferably forming a group. Consequently, the rope-like body ends after three to five thread ends have matted, and the piece is still shortenough to be removed by the suction of the suction nozzle.

According to another embodiment of the present invention a cutting device is provided in the region of the suction nozzle which is operated at regular short intervals to chop the forming rope-like body into short pieces which are easily removed by the suction of the suction nozzle.

According to another embodiment, a plurality of suction nozzles, for instance, four suction nozzles, are arranged on a turret, so that whenever a bobbin is replaced nitecl States Patent ice 2 by a full bobbin, the turret is shifted, for instance, through an angle of 30.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of a winding machine provided with the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detail of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the thread F passes from the left-off bobbin 1 over the thread guide 2, the thread tensioning means 3, the guide roller 4 and the guide drum 5 to the take up roller 6. A magazine means 7 holds a plurality of full bobbins 8 which consecutively replace empty let-off bobbins 1 and assume the unwinding position of bobbin 1.

The magazine means includes an inclined support 7a along which the bobbins 8 consecutively slide into the position of the bobbin 1. A guide means 7b, such as a straight rod, supports the thread ends of the bobbins 8 directly adjacent the bobbins 8.

At a predetermined distance from the magazine means 7, suction means are arranged which are illustrated to be two suction nozzles 9 and 9a. A group of three bobbins is associated with each suction nozzle so that three thread ends are held by the suction nozzle 9 and three thread ends are held by the suction nozzle a. The thread ends are sucked into the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 3, which, however, refers to another embodiment.

In order to assure a proper operation of the apparatus, the thread ends must have a predetermined length permitting movement of the fed bobbin into the position of the bobbin 1 with its thread end still held by the suction nozzle.

This predetermined length of the thread ends is obtained by members 16 and 17. Member 16 is a guide member, and member 17 has a cutting edge, and may be a razor blade. The guide member 16 is arranged adjacent the suction nozzles, so that the operator is capable of guiding the thread end of a bobbin newly placed in the magazine 7 over the guide member 16 to the razor blade 17 where the thread end is cut oif at the required length. The sum of the distances a and b is the desired length. Members 16 and 17 are so arranged that the operator can perform a circular manual movement while the position of the guide member 16 assures passing of the thread ends over the center of one of the nozzles 9 and 9a. The cut off thread ends are sucked into the suction nozzle over which they were guided. The guide member 16 can be designed as a notch in a rod, as a hook, or as a similar recessed member.

The operator guides the thread ends of a group of three to five bobbins over each nozzle. When the first group of bobbins whose thread ends pass over the nozzle 9a has been fed, the nozzle 9a is again provided with thread ends of bobbins which follow in the magazine means the bobbins whose thread ends are guided over the nozzle 9.

When an exchange of an empty bobbin is to take place, the empty bobbin 1 is removed bymeans which are not an object of the present invention, the first bobbin 8 slides along the guide means 7a and replaces bobbin 1. The thread ends of the thus fed first bobbin are still held by the suction nozzle 9a. Knot tying means grip the thread end between the newly fed bobbin and the suction nozzle, and tie it to the free end which extends from the take up roller 6 to the tensioning and guide means 2 and 3.

The thread end held by the suction nozzle 9a is cut off by cutting means 20, and is sucked into the suction nozzle. It intertwines, however, with the thread end of the next following two full bobbins which are held by the nozzle 9a. As the first group of full bobbins associated with nozzle 9a are consecutively fed, the cut oil thread ends stick together to form a comparatively short rope-like body which consists in the illustrated embodiment of three cut off thread end pieces. A body of such short length can be easily sucked off by the suction nozzle 9a. While the bobbins associated with the suction nozzle 9a are fed, the bobbins associated with the suction nozzle 9 move to the position formerly occupied by the first three bobbins, while the operator places another group of three bobbins in the magazine and guides the thread ends thereof over the nozzle 9a.

The bobbins whose thread ends pass still over the nozzle 9 are then fed and wound olf whereby a short rope-like body is formed in the nozzle 9 by the three out off thread ends, and sucked off.

Due to the constant change between the nozzles, only a limited number of cut off thread ends form the ropelike body assuring elimination by suction.

In the event that a magazine of greater capacity is 7 provided, more than two nozzles are provided, each of the nozzles cooperating with three to five bobbins.

In order to prevent a tangling of the thread ends between the bobbins 8 and the nozzles, the suction nozzles are so arranged that the plane defined by the thread ends of each group of bobbins associated with one suction nozzle is inclined to the corresponding plane defined by the thread ends of the next following group of bobbins associated with another nozzle. Preferably, the suction nozzles are staggered, while the thread ends are held by the guide rod 7b adjacent to the magazine 7. The guide edge of the guide rod 71) defines a straight line at which the planes intersect which are defined by the thread ends associated with each group of bobbins. It will be apparent that the arrangement of the nozzles 9 and 9a in different planes will reduce the danger of the thread ends becoming tangled.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The take up bobbin, the thread guiding means and the knot tieing device are not shown in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the length of the undesirable matted rope-like body is limited in a different manner. Only a single suction nozzle 12 is provided so that a continuous rope-like body would be formed by cut thread ends as the bobbins 3 consecutively take the place of the bobbin 1. In order to limit the length of the ropelike body, a cutting device is provided which preferably includes a pivoted knife 11 arranged in a tubular portion of the suction nozzle 12 and preferably cooperating with an edge of the tubular portion.

The let-off bobbin 1 is supported on a movable supporting means 15 which is pivoted by an operating shaft means 15:: whenever a bobbin 1 is empty and replaced by a full bobbin 8. The movable supporting means 15 is connected by a rod 14 to a lever 13 which actuates the cutting knife 11. Consequently, every time the operating means 15:: pivot the supporting lever 15 during a bobbin exchange, the rope-like body formed in the suction tube is cut through. The cut-off short pieces are removed by suction. Since the suction tube 12 has a predetermined length, only excess lengths of the thread ends are cut off.

In the event that, after a bobbin exchange, a cut off end of a thread sticks to the thread ends extending from the bobbins 8 to the suction tube 12, the entire free thread end is drawn into the suction tube due to untensioning of the thread end, the bobbins following up during the exchange of bobbins. Furthermore, the distance between the bobbins and the suction tube is reduced.

While only short pieces are cut off by the repeated cutting operation of the cutting knife 11, gradually all free ends are drawn into the suction means, partly by suction, partly by the repeated cutting operation and are removed from the narrow suction nozzle so that in this embodiment as well, the suction nozzle is never clogged.

It will be apparent that in both embodiments of the present invention the formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is limited to short pieces whereby a clogging of the suction device is prevented.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of suction devices for holding the thread ends of bobbins differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a suction device including means for limiting the length of a matted rope-like body formed by cut off thread ends to a length permitting removal by suction, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; suction means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position; cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is caused in said suction means; and a cutting device for repeatedly cutting said matted rope-like body so as to limit the length of said matted rope-like body to pieces of such length as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction means.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; suction nozzle means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position; cutting means for cutting the threads ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is caused in said suction nozzle means; and a cutting device located in said suction nozzle means for repeatedly cutting said matted rope-like body so as to limit the length of said matter rope-like body to pieces of such length as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction nozzle means.

3. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; suction means loeated spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position and including movable supporting means movable between a first bobbin receiving position and a second position for holding a bobbin in said unwinding position;

means for operating said movable supporting means; cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is caused in said suction means; a cutting device for repeatedly cutting said matter rope-like body so as to limit the length of said matted rope-like body to pieces of such length as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction means; and motion transmitting means connecting said movable supporting means with said cutting device so that said cutting device is operated whenever said movable supporting means shifts a bobbin to said unwinding position.

4. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; suction nozzle means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position and including movable supporting means movable between a first bobbin receiving position and a sec- 0nd position for holding a bobbin in said unwinding position; means for operating said movable supporting means; cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut oif thread ends is caused in said suction nozzle means; a cutting device located in said suction nozzle means for repeatedly cutting said matted ropeJike body so as to limit the length of said matted rope-like body to pieces of such length as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction nozzle means; and motion transmitting means connecting said movable supporting means with said cutting device so that said cutting device is operated whenever said movable supporting means shifts a bobbin to said unwinding position.

'5. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; guide means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins adjacent said magazine means; a plurality of suction means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins, each suction means being adapted to hold the thread ends of a group of said plurality of full bobbins and being staggered with respect to the other suction means and with respect to said guide means so that the thread ends of each group of bobbins extend in a different plane, said planes intersecting at said guide means; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position; cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut ofl thread ends is limited to the length of the thread ends of each of said groups of bobbins so as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction means.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; guide rod means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins adjacent said magazine means along a straight line; a plurality of suction means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins, each suction means be ing adapted to hold the thread ends of a group of said plurality of full bobbins and being staggered with respect to the other suction means and with respect to said guide rod means so that the thread ends of each group of bobbins extend in a different plane, said planes intersecting in said straight line at said guide means; means for consecutively moving said full bobbins from said magazine means to an unwinding position; cutting means for cutting the thread ends of bobbins in said unwinding position whereby the continuous formation of a matted rope-like body consisting of cut off thread ends is limited to the length of the thread ends of each of said groups of bobbins so as to be adapted to be removed by the suction of said suction means.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, magazine means for holding a plurality of full bobbins carrying thread; suction means located spaced from said magazine means for holding the thread ends of said full bobbins; a cutting edge located spaced a predetermined distance from said magazine means for cutting off the threads of said full bobbins so that said thread ends held by said suction means have a predetermined length; and a thread guide member adjacent said suction means and adapted to guide a thread passing from a bobbin in said magazine means to said cutting edge in such manner that a portion of said thread passes over said suction means and is sucked in after cutting.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said thread guide member is a recessed member.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cutting edge is arranged transversely spaced from the line defined by said magazine means and by said guide member so as to permit a substantially circular manual motion of the operator guiding said thread over said suction means and said guide member to said cutting edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,593 Wakefield June 4, 1946 2,440,523 Peterson Apr. 27, 1948 2,447,291 Turner Aug. 17, 1948 2,491,142 Utter Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,047,486 France July 22, 1953 1,059,699 France Nov. 10, 1953 

